LEAVE TRANSPORT FOR SOLDIERS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 November 1943, Page 2

LEAVE TRANSPORT FOR SOLDIERS.

COMPLAINT made by a correspondent, whose letter was published yesterday, regarding the difficulties placed in the way of soldiers on leave in this district getting back to camp in time to escape being penalised appears definitely to call for consideration. With little if any opportunity of reserving a rail-car seat in good time, a soldier on weekend leave in the Wairarapa obviously is likely to find himself denied a place for the return journey.' This does not reflect, in existing circumstances, on the Railways Department or on the officials who control and operate the rail-cars. The service admittedly is overtaxed and cannot meantime be expanded to meet demands. At the same time it is very necessary, if only in the interests of public safety, that the loading of rail-cars and other railway vehicles should be limited and controlled strictly.

It seems to rest rather with the Defence Department and the Army authorities than with the Railways Department to remedy any special hardship now imposed on soldiers in the matter of weekend travel restrictions. Arrangements perhaps might be made to enable soldiers to reserve seats for their journey home and back. If that is impracticable, it is surely not reasonable to penalise a man for not returning at the appointed time when he has no means of doing so. lie might, in that case, be given the option of returning by the next available train. Alternatively, buses might be run in some instances for the conveyance of organised parties of soldiers on leave. On the facts indicated, the existing position is rather absurd, besides embodying an element of serious injustice. H a soldier, making every effort to get back to camp at the appointed time, is unable to do so on account of no means of transport being available, it is hardly just to say that lie has overstayed his leave and must pay the penalty.